The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-06-22
FOOD AND EXERCISE.

The formation OF every animal Is OF
course fixed through its breeding. 1t
this result could not be assured, the
breeders art would be stripped OF
much of the charm that surrounds it.
But when it is considered that cow OF
one of the beef breeds, carrying
weight of 1900 pounds, has received
1,4OO pounds of this weight through
the feeders art, no argument is needed
to convince any one that feeding cuts
an important figure in shaping the
form. A young oak is taken up from
its natural place in forest where the
soil is rich, deep and moist, and trans
planted into the soil of dry, sandy
plain, where only scrub oaks are found
II it survives it will not take the shape
and stature it would have taken
had it been left to grow in the soil
where its wants would have been fully
met. Trees and cattle alike are sus-
ceptible of great changes. growing
out of the way they are nourlshed and
trained. Yet the laws of nature. in
the direction of changing the charac-
ter and proportion of the tissues
through feeding special foods can not
be changed. While an extraordinary
effort IN this direction may appear to
be attended with some show of results
in the direction aimed at, these must,
in the nature of things, be exceedingly
restricted, and SO opposed to the nat
ural order that no paying results can
ever be reached. There is a partial
exception to be made here, due to the
fact that some foods create more rapid
fat deposit than others Yet bear in
mind that fat is one of the ar
ticles necessary in making up the
anatomical structure OF beast.
1t has no agency in NOV
ing the body; is not contractile or ex-
pansive like the muscles; is, in fact,
mere accumulation of surplus nutri-
ment, stored up for future use.
The relative proportion ofthe tissues
of which the body Is made up. can be
changed only through selection and
exercise. Thus, if a man has cow or
bull having an especial development
in any portion of the body, be this a
broad, heavy loin, or other popularity,
this can be perpetuated, for it is a part
of the anatomical formation and as
likely to appear in the progeny as in
coarse head or horn. There are pecul-
iarities of formation, as shown now
and then in marked development of
some portion of the muscular system
yet the bulk of part can be increased
by giving that part free exercise. Thus,
the hook, hind quarters and loin of a
COW compelled to ascend a high hill daily
to the pasture grounds, if this be fol-
lowed up from calf-hood to mature age,
will certainly be widened and thick
ened. This, for the same reason that
the continuous extra exertion of the
blacksmith right arm is followed by
large development of the muscles
thus brought into use. But no result
of this kind can be reached through
any special plan of feeding whatever.
1t would be as rational to endeavor,
through special sort of manures, to
cause the fibers of the sap portion of
tree to take on an especially rapid
growth, outstripping the heart. wood
and bark. If it is peculiar to tree or
plant to have thick bark, or other
part in excess, this can only be altered
by ENGRAVING upon it another variety,
if this be practicable.
AS stated. the feed given to an ami.
nal from calf-hood up to the attain
ment of weight of 1900 pounds, or
any other respectable weight, cuts so
important figure in maturing the
beast that every phase of the question
of foods, feeding and ready assimila-
ton should be more generally studied
than now. The question should not
be, how much fat can be put on in the
case of beast to be retained as a
breeder, but rather how much health
and symmetrical development can be
given the whole body through appro-
pirate food and exercise. Do not. in
the case of breeding animals, plan
that the beasts may get to the pasture
ground by a very short cut, because if
the feed is abundant and an inviting
shade ut hand, the animals viii become
too INDECENT For this reason, the
treatment of cattle being fed for market
should not be the same as that of those
that are to remain upon the premises,
as the basis for future increase Econ
omical expenditure of food is of the
first Importance in the case of animals
that are being prepared for market
With those it is supposed that all the
development of muscle that can be ex-
pected has been secured. and rapid ac-
emulation of weight being the object,
they should have rest, and plenty of it.
Hence the fattening animals should go
to the nearest feeding ground, and
where water is within easy
reach. But breeding animals
of the improved kinds have been so
radically changed from the natural
conditions-fat substituted for that
full development of muscle that comes
in a great measure from exercise-that
it will be wise for those who have
favored the habit of Incidence, in con-
nection with high feeding, to consider
what the result has been. 1t is of the
first Importance to know whether the
tendency to increase in the herd has
been preserved or lessened, or, on the
other hand, whether indications of